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Could it be muscle mass gain or maybe not enough calories? Or maybe just a plateau... Hope the scale gets moving again soon!

Hey everyone! Just wanted to share with my favourite nsv with everyone, my first 5k walk is officially under my belt. I came in in under 50 minutes I am very happy with my time, I was actually anticipating being well over an hour but determination kept me going. Its amazing to see from this end how much weight was holding me back.

Hello to everyone. I am scheduled for surgery with Dr. Ortiz next month. I have been doing research for 6 months. I am a surgery nurse myself, and I enjoyed very much their frank discussion and invitation to come early and observe. They use modern equipment, the same instrumentation in many cases that we use in our OR's. At any rate, I still have the same "butterflies" as all of you. I am so looking forward to gaining control of this last area of my life that I can't seem to handle. Thanks for listening.

Your weight loss is great! 25 pounds in a month is awsome! Sorry to say, your first fill probably won't make you feel any different. For a lucky few it does. It took me 3 fills to feel any restriction. As far as the procedure, it's fairly easy. The doc. (or nurse if that's who does it at your office) will inject something to numb you, then use a needle to access the port. The needle is kind of long, but don't worry, you won't feel anything. At least that is my experience. Good luck and please don't be down on yourself, you are doing just great.

Had my first fill today. I was told I am a very "hard stick" and that my port is deep. On the plus side of her having to dig and dig and dig--she told me that at least when I lose alot of weight my port wont protrude. I only got a little over 1cc because I was so nervous and then swollen after the digging that that ...was all I could tolerate at the time Now I am hungry and have to wait 4 weeks to get another. She intially put 2ccs in but took some out and I was scared to argue since she is very experienced at fills and if I needed an emergency unfill this weekend--she told me the fellows at the ER aren't very good. ARGGGGG I hope I have at least a little restriction. Total I am down now is 21lbs though.

I was looking at all the pictures on the web of the earthquake victims in Haiti. Oh my God, what devastation Haiti is experiencing right now. My weight problems just don't seem to be as significate today as it has been.:sad: The earthquake that hit Haiti was worse than any hurricane I've ever seen. I feel so thankful just to live my life today without all the sadness those people are going through. I can not imagine my world being turned upside down and inside out the way Haiti has!:cursing: My heart is so very heavy for their lost. Today, my desire for the band is just not that important to me. My prayers and focus is for the sadness and lost for the people in Haiti.:ohmy:

I was looking at all the pictures on the web of the earthquake victims in Haiti. Oh my God, what devastation Haiti is experiencing right now. My weight problems just don't seem to be as significate today as it has been. The earthquake that hit Haiti was worse than any hurricane I've ever seen. I feel so thankful just to live my life today without all the sadness those people are going through. I can not imagine my world being turned upside down and inside out the way Haiti has!:thumbup: My heart is so very heavy for their lost. Today, my desire for the band is just not that important to me. My prayers and focus is for the sadness and lost for the people in Haiti.

Hi everyone, I had the lapband put in two years ago. I lost about 30 pounds and in the process of doing so moved across the country and had to find a new doctor to provide fills for my band. Although my original fill was under fluoroscopy (which obviously worked since I lost the 30 pounds), subsequent fills have been "blind" and have seemed to be either too tight or too loose. And to make matters even worse, sometimes when my band is loose, there are times when it gets super tight and I do the PB thing. It seems to be when I'm anxious or nervous I can't eat, but when I'm relaxed I can eat too much. I'm frustrated because I've gained back some of the weight I've lost because my band fill hasn't been right. I think I need to get a fill under fluoroscopy but I guess I'm skeptical about whether my band is even going to work for me anymore, especially given I've had it for two years and I know most people lose most of their weight in the beginning. Is it too late for me? Any opinions or advice would be appreciated. Thanks

I am going to be sleeved by Dr. Aceves on May 11th. Currently I do Cross-fit 3 times a week. Cross fit is a very high intesity workout that involves the use of weights. How long after surgury can i go back to weight lifting??? I really enjoy it, and I'm still fat...!!!

Warning: this may be TMI! BUT I don't know who else to share it with! So... this morning at church I feel a little strange, I hop into the bathroom and lo and behold, I'm spotting! I grab the tampon that's been in my purse for about a year and a half since my last period. It's really dark and very very light. Normally, I'm very heavy... so I'm thinking this is just day one. I am just so excited! I've been so heavy and haven't had a "natural" period since 2001ish. I went off birth control about a year and a half ago. I'm just so excited! I came back from the bathroom at church and wanted to tell someone, but figured that was definately an inappropriate topic for church. lol. I guess I'm just so thrilled because being banded was the first step to getting pregnant... getting my period is definately the second step. Now to lose all the weight and begin the baby factory! :thumbup: I told my husband, but I don't think he really understood the thrill. He actually said "Man, that takes out 25% of the year for sex." Men....

Yesterday I was so not interested in my shakes. I only drank half for breakfast and half for lunch. Needless to say I was starving yesterday afternoon. I cooked a whole chicken in the crockpot all day and it was calling my name when I got home. LOL Well I had 6oz of breast meat and 1 cup of chicken stuffing. It was pretty filling. Last night I was feeling very empty so I had a small bowl of mini wheats and 2% milk. I went a little over my calories. But my carbs were high becasue of the stuffing. I am struggling so much with this diet. I am going to weight in agian today so hopefully I am still on track to losing weight. I have lost about 10 pounds so I still have 10 pounds to go till surgery and I have 2 weeks so I think It is very doable. I am trying to keep strong.

You say you've only had one fill but feel too tight. Normally, it takes several fills to reach true restriction. Also, I wonder if you are eating slider foods. Slider foods go down easy but are often high in calories. Are you exercising? How many ccs are in your band and just how full are you? How much weight did you need to lose and what is your goal weight? These are all question that need answered in order to give you a full response. Hang in there and you'll figure it out so that you're band will work for you. Best wishes!

Believe me this morning I have been religous 3 months with the gym and I was a little defeated because I am running now and I had the best workout this weekend so Ithough the scale would move almost gave in to that fat devil on my shoulder the old me and not go and I pushed ahead and I am back fromt he gym so glad I went I feel so much better talked with the trainer he said I have lost alot and your muscles add weight so I feel so much better and didnt give in to old behaviors..Thank you so much for your support!

I started off at 250lbs, am now down to 190 and my goal is 145. I was banded in Mexico and only have a 4cc band. Right now it's filled to 1.9cc. I walk 1.5-2 miles 4-5 days a week and get into the gym for extra cardio and weights about twice a week. I haven't been counting calories really, and maybe that's where I need to start. My surgeon sent me home with instructions for 600-800 calories a day, but that doesn't seem like enough. I may be guilty of eating some slider foods, like tomato soup and mashed potatoes on occasion, but for the most part I eat a lot of salmon, salad, chicken, and raw fruits and veggies. Thanks for your insight! I don't want to fail at this, quitting just isn't an option!

I suggest light weight/high rep weight lifting.....and as much cardio as you can stand before you feel light headed.....(dont pass out though)..... I also workout early in the morning on an empty stomach....I see great benefit in that.....

hi everybody, i was banded (that sounds weird to me) beginning of February. My dr. told me not to expect to lose weight until after 6 months. I lost weight initially, but gained it back once I healed after the surgery. At this point, I've had 3 adjustment. The first 2 times, it felt restrictive for the first couple days, but then it sort of eased up. I was eating small meals, but I couldn't stop myself from grazing. Especially at night. I'd eat a little, then go back and eat a little more, and a little more. II lost 1lb. Now I've had my 3rd adjusment. It's been 3 days, and I can't really eat at all!! It took me an hour to eat an egg. Especially in the morning, just swallowing a pill can hurt going down. I'm thinking it's too tight, but I'm finally losing some weight. Is this how it's supposed to be? I'll call my dr. monday, but I'm wondering what those of you that have already gone thru this have to say. When is it too tight? I'm worried if I loosen it, I won't lose weight. Will this ease up after a few more days? Thanks!

I was grumpy a bit but not like that.sorry to hear you're having troubles. I thank God mine is working out great so far. Down 30 in three weeks. It may be more because i only weight at Dr office. God luck how things get better!

I was in hospital for 4 days they gave me 9 bags of IV fluids I gained 16 lbs of fluid. 3 days after I got home I lost it all

Hi everyone, So Wednesday will be officialy a month since I had my VSG...I have only lost about 16lbs...I know it's a lot but i'd say most of that weight was lost in the first two weeks. For the past two weeks I just dont see any lose at all...my scale goes up and down but pretty much stays the same. Im tired and i feel icky most of the time, Im walking and trying to be active because I can totaly see myself getting depressed. I'v been told this is normal, but i don't think hearing that is helping at this point. I guess Im scared I'll be the first person I know that has this done and doesn't actually loose the weight...i'm still having a hard time getting in my fluid and Im only getting in about 35-45 g of protien a day...I burp so much when i eat or drink that it's making me not want to do either...im taking the pepcid and vitamins and now fiber chewables but it's not making a difference with my burping...I know ppl who went back to work after two weeks, i couldn't imagin going through al this and have to work a full day...im going to water arobics tonight hoping that will boost my mood...anyone else out there feeling the same way? Tesse

Hey guys, I came up with a great idea that I wanted to share with you. Any distance sport would work well too. Below is the message I sent out to my family and friends, use it or chuck it, whatever works for you! I hope it helps someone out! "As many of you know, though some may not, I made a major life decision regarding m weight. On September 16th, two weeks ago, I underwent surgery to receive a lap-band. Now with the lap-bad in my body, the amount of food I can eat is restricted and therefore causing me to lose weight (15.5 pounds so far)! If I continue on this path I will continue to lose weight over a long period of time. Now, while losing weight like this is fantastic there is one way I can get more bang for my buck. All I need to do is come up with a way to exercise in a suitable and entertaining way. This is where you all come in. The reason you have received this message is because I trust you, and feel I can count on you to help me in this endeavor. I am only asking 3 things of each of you. Before I tell you the three things please let me explain my idea and goal. Exercise can be tedious and no fun for people, so I am trying to take what I have available to me and make it fun. I have in my home a recumbent stationary bike. Now I do enjoy it to some extent but I need to enjoy it more so I came up with a plan. Here is where you start to come in. What I am initially asking from you are 2 things. The first is merely your address. I need this because I will be virtually 'riding' from one home to the next. I plan to take your address and see how many miles it is from the next closest person, via google, and 'ride' that many miles to the next home. My ultimate plan is to make a circuit that may go something like this: 1. Home to JLP on the other side of town. 2. From JLP to my parent's house three states away. 3. From my parents to Maine (Auntie Di). 4. Maine to Montana....etc... The second thing is to select from the following list the terrain type you think best describes the area around your home. This will allow me to pick a bike setting and change up my settings throughout the circuit. Is your terrain (near you city/area/state): 1. flatland 2. a valley 3. a flat top mountain or hill 4. a steep (pointy) mountain or hill 5. a few consecutive hills or mountains 6. continuous hills or mountains If no terrain choice is to your liking choose the closest one or let me know and I will pick one no one else has picked because the point is to change up the routine. Now the third and last thing I ask of you is this. When I virtually get to your 'home', I would like to be treated as a guest and served a healthy meal. This means, from you, I would like just one healthy recipe. One that recipe is received (via Facebook is fine), I will then begin my trek to the next person's home. So as of right now, I need willing participants to be in my cross country bike circuit. If you agree, you will give me only three things; your address, your terrain type, and a recipe when I 'arrive' at your home. If you are game to help me out, please post your address and terrain type so I can begin figuring out my route. Thanks for the help everyone!"

'm almost three weeks out and combined with the six months pre-surgery, two week fast and 19 days post-op, I'm down 45 pounds. Hoot hoot!!!!! My question to you all is how many of you have met the goal that you and your doctor set? Thank you in advance!!

Very interesting article. I am planning for surgery in a year. I always wondered if those who had surgery kept the weight off better. It just seems logical that you would.

I had lap band with plication 3 months ago and I have had just 1 fill of .5cc and that's it and I feel Great. I have been losing weight very consistently and have lost about 36 pounds since surgery.

I am scheduled for a revision to bypass Dec. 16. I had a lap band for about 4 1/2 years and lost all the weight I wanted to--maybe even more than I wanted. But those 4 1/2 years were not much fun as I was vomiting a lot and was quite malnourished at times, I believe. In fact I ended up having emergency lung surgery for a massive lung infection, probably due to aspirating something when I vomited and my body having no strength to fight it. The lap band was removed 13 months ago due to an out-pouching in the esophagus and I have regained all of the weight I lost after surgery and a little more. My only alternative now is bypass. I can't say I'm 100% committed to having this surgery and feel I need a lot more information before making that decision. I actually live in Mexico but will have the surgery in Portland, OR, for insurance purposes. That is also where I had my lap band inserted and removed. But because of the distance I cannot be there for support group or appointments with the surgeon and others to ask more questions. So I hope I can get lots of answers and support on this group. I've already bought my plane ticket to fly to Portland about a week before surgery but I would gladly lose that money or just go visit friends and family rather than make a mistake in going ahead with this surgery. So, here goes my first question: I have heard from the dietician about the liquid diet and then the "mushy" diet following the surgery, but what I don't have a grip on is what will I be able to eat long term. I'd like to hear what you eat, especially things you enjoy. I also want to know what you can't eat, especially things you have tried that resulted in problems for you. I appreciate any input you can give me on these questions. I know I'll have many more in the next several months.

Most often a drop in blood pressure for a post op vsg is due to one of two things. Most commonly it will be from dehydration. Even a moderate dehydration can cause the lightheadedness and dizzy feeling. Especially when you stand up. The blood rushes down to legs( which is why drink fluids and lay down and put feet up) it gels get that blood moving back to your heart and brain again and the fluid will help with the volume which will help raise the pressure so that your heart can deliver the blood to all the arteries, etc. Another common reason is if you are on blood pressure medication, sometimes after a a significant weight loss or drop, all of a sudden your blood pressure starts to bottom out after taking your meds and you need to have doc adjust dose or discontinued.